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Post by MartinT on Jul 16, 2014 16:29:58 GMT
Hackneyed lift music or still fresh interpretations of Vivaldi's timeless music?
I have deliberately selected Summer as it will be less familiar than Spring for new listeners. Play it loud!
1. I love how the Scandinavians do it. This is my favourite performance with Nils-Erik Sparf and the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble on BIS.
2. One of the early classics, the Alan Loveday / Neville Marriner performance with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Argo.
3. How our Nige does it. Nigel Kennedy in action with the Berlin Philharmonic.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2014 16:54:11 GMT
None of the above. I can't play Spotify stuff.
Played the way I have heard some do it, yup its lift music. Played properly, its fun, uplifting and great.
First choice: Chris Hogwood: Academy of St.Martins in the Field
Second: Jeane Lamon: Tafelmusik
I do know I don't enjoy the Kennedy version at all though.
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Post by MartinT on Jul 16, 2014 17:08:43 GMT
Sorry, Gordon, I thought even those with a free account could play Spotify links.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2014 17:15:52 GMT
Sorry, Gordon, I thought even those with a free account could play Spotify links. When I say I can't it means I have never even tried to get Spotify as I'm not really interested. If I can sign up for a free account, I'll have a look  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2014 17:27:55 GMT
Right downloaded Spotty.
Agree with your choice although there were a couple of times the violin had me wincing.
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Post by daytona600 on Jul 16, 2014 17:34:36 GMT
 MODERATION: The record you are trying to sell our members is not one of those that this thread is about.
Stick to the script please. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2014 17:44:53 GMT
Spam, spam, spamity spam.........AGAIN. You are quite right it does sound very good indeed. Unfortunately I couldn't listen to it as its exactly what I hate about most versions of this - what becomes an old potboiler. They are playing baroque music as if its classical when it should be jazz. So not for me.  |
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Post by Andrei on Jul 16, 2014 21:02:27 GMT
" ... should be jazz?" . On a slightly related topic: The Largo in Winter. This is a gorgeous melody but in the majority of cases the tempo is allegro (or allegretto if you like), and not Largo. To my ears I like the up-tempo versions and it does not seem to spoil the outer movements - But, it is not Largo and surely not what Vivaldi intended. Preferences? or even are the up-tempo versions simply wrong?
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Post by Slinger on Jul 16, 2014 21:47:09 GMT
I can't think of a more divisive piece of popular classical music, except maybe the 1812 or Beethoven's 5th. 3 choices and I'll bet 99% will take option 'D'  My personal favourite is Vanessa Mae's "Original Four Seasons" simply because it's a bit different and doesn't quite bow to convention like so many interpretations. I am donning my flak jacket and tin hat as I type this. I know what a lot of people think of the Olympic skier and violinist that is Vanessa Mae. Personally I applaud her for some brave choices as much as I dislike her crass commercialism at times. I love her version of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. It's almost as good as mine...which I ripped off from her version of course.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2014 5:00:13 GMT
I can't think of a more divisive piece of popular classical music, except maybe the 1812 or Beethoven's 5th. 3 choices and I'll bet 99% will take option 'D' My personal favourite is Vanessa Mae's "Original Four Seasons" simply because it's a bit different and doesn't quite bow to convention like so many interpretations. I am donning my flak jacket and tin hat as I type this. I know what a lot of people think of the Olympic skier and violinist that is Vanessa Mae. Personally I applaud her for some brave choices as much as I dislike her crass commercialism at times. I love her version of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. It's almost as good as mine...which I ripped off from her version of course. It may be possible that I am the only person here who has never heard her play. I will head directly to YouTube to see what she is all about  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2014 5:07:17 GMT
" ... should be jazz?" . On a slightly related topic: The Largo in Winter. This is a gorgeous melody but in the majority of cases the tempo is allegro (or allegretto if you like), and not Largo. To my ears I like the up-tempo versions and it does not seem to spoil the outer movements - But, it is not Largo and surely not what Vivaldi intended. Preferences? or even are the up-tempo versions simply wrong? Should 'doing what the composer intended' always be the mantra I wonder. Considering the amazing variety of approaches to the same piece of music, it certainly appears that many disregard it to a degree. I strongly suspect that in many, if not most music, there is more to be discovered than the composer realised. Hearing two actors read the same script and its obvious that the written words are not everything. Music may well be the same. One of my 'big things' is musicians who just play the notes without trying to find the music within them. Vive la difference  |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 17, 2014 5:28:41 GMT
Interesting comments, keep it up! The reason I love the Sparf/Drottningholm recording is that the Scandinavians put so much effort into it: they play with huge enthusiasm and as if their lives depend on it. One other thing: the BIS recording is extraordinarily vivid, quite superb actually.
There are far too many 'workmanlike' recordings of the Four Seasons out there.
I can't say I like the Vanessa Mae version much, but all credit for trying something a little different.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2014 6:13:23 GMT
Vanessa Mae is obviously a very good violinist but I have to agree with Martin that its not my cup of tea.
Looking at a lot of her stuff on YouTube, its quite possible that the fact her performances look staged by Simon Cowell might not help. Listening without any visuals improves things a little but her phrasing doesn't really appeal to me in much the same (but different) way that I find Nigel Kennedy uninteresting.
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shane
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Post by shane on Jul 17, 2014 6:55:01 GMT
My favourite "proper" version is the Mariner/St Martin In The Fields recording from 1970 on Argo (ZRG654), because it's such a quintessentially English interpretation, but I also find myself listening to Nigel Kennedy's extraordinary "fantasia" based around the Seasons from last year's Proms. The fact that it's neaarly 90 minutes long gives you a clue that it's a bit different...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2014 7:06:37 GMT
My favourite "proper" version is the Mariner/St Martin In The Fields recording from 1970 on Argo (ZRG654), because it's such a quintessentially English interpretation, but I also find myself listening to Nigel Kennedy's extraordinary "fantasia" based around the Seasons from last year's Proms. The fact that it's neaarly 90 minutes long gives you a clue that it's a bit different... Tut tut How can Vivaldi be quintessentially English? Surely a non sequitur. I have the version and it is very good, I just prefer things a bit more lively. I'll have a look at the Kennedy thing, looks interesting. For some reason, most of the embedded videos won't play on my Mac and I have to find them direct. MacTubes fixes that though. This all just illustrates how differently music can touch us. You say tomato etc. |
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Post by pinkie on Jul 17, 2014 8:57:52 GMT
I'm afraid I too like Neville Mariners - but I suspect that's because it was the first version I had. I think as we have mentioned before this is an influence.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2014 9:50:48 GMT
I'm afraid I too like Neville Mariners - but I suspect that's because it was the first version I had. I think as we have mentioned before this is an influence. Yup, I am sure this has an influence. The ones I like best though are really the performances that have blown me away and made me re-assess the piece entirely, so my original version goes down the list. Not that many of those though |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2014 10:26:17 GMT
I've just started watching the kennedy 4 seasons at the proms. Do it properly later but I think I can safely say its not quintessentially English pastoral. Verdict on the first movement - interesting  |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 17, 2014 10:35:27 GMT
My favourite "proper" version is the Mariner/St Martin In The Fields recording from 1970 on Argo (ZRG654) That's one of the versions here, Shane.
I've just noticed that the Spotify link for the third (Kennedy) version has disappeared! Must fix it...
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Post by MartinT on Jul 17, 2014 10:48:54 GMT
I'm afraid I too like Neville Mariners - but I suspect that's because it was the first version I had. I think as we have mentioned before this is an influence. Then please vote for it! |
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